Pa. diocese to close churches, share priests

October 07, 2008

GREENSBURG, Pa. — A Roman Catholic diocese outside Pittsburgh will close 14 of its 100 parishes, and 28 others will merge or share clergy in an effort to deal with a priest shortage.

Lawrence Brandt, bishop of the Greensburg diocese, announced the changes Monday. The consolidation, which will take effect Oct. 30, grew out of a three-year study in the diocese, which has about 180,000 parishioners in four counties east of Pittsburgh.

“I know that people are mentally and emotionally attached to their parishes and churches in a way they identify with no other building or entity,” Brandt said in a statement. “It is understandable that they feel a part of themselves has been lost forever.”

Brandt said 20 percent of the diocese’s priests were being used to serve just 2.5 percent of its population.

“I cannot in good conscience continue to justify this disproportionate use of our resources,” Brandt said. The diocese has 83 active priests, but expects that number to drop to 60 within five years and 49 in 10 years, based on projected deaths, departures and ordinations.

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The diocese’s churches are in Armstrong, Fayette, Indiana and Westmoreland counties.

The 14 parishes being closed generally have small congregations or are in rural areas, or both. Two other parishes will merge outright, while 26 parishes will enter new or modified priest-sharing partnerships.

Parishioners were told of the coming changes in a letter read at Masses on Sunday. A second round of letters detailing the changes coming to churches and priest assignments will be read at Oct. 12 Masses.

The Greensburg diocese was formed in 1951 from part of the Pittsburgh diocese. Once the changes take place, it will have 85 parishes.